Friction-clutch.



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cnaiarns in, t. Mosn'soiv, or rrronnnnc., MASSACHUSETTS.

aarden.

ToaZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES M. L. MesnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at`Fitchburg, in the county of ilVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefull Improvement in lrictionlutches, of which the following is a specification, `accompanied by drawings forming a part ofthe same, in which- Figure 1 isa transverse section of my im proved clutch. Fig. 2 is the same showing a modiiied form adapted for a-drive in one direction only. Fig. 8 is a side view of the inner member and sliding sleeve. Fig. Llis" asect1on on line ie-Fig 1, lookingin the direction of thearrow a.

Similar reference letters and figures refer to similar parts 1n the different views.

' My invention relates to a clutch mechan-` ism comprising a driving and a driven member 1n which the connection is made bythe wedging action ofV balls or rollers between nexed claims.

mnnicated through the friction connection.

to the driven member, and it consists in the constructionand operation of part-s as here.- inafter described and pointed ont 1n the an Referringito the accompanying drawings 1 denotes the'annular outer member 4ot the clutch, having an internal groove 2 semicircular in cross section. This annular outer member 1 is arranged to inclose the periph ery of the inner member 3, which is provided with a hub 4. Either the outer or inner member maybe employed as the driving or the driven member, as desired. circular opening 5 extends through the inner member 3 and communicates witha corresponding groove 6 on the peri Jhery ofthe member 3 by radial openings The bottom of the groove 6 is provided with cam surfaces 8 midway betweeneach opening 7, thereby forming Ashallowerportions 9 of the groove 6, and a ball or roller 10 is arranged4 A to be inserted through each opening 7, and

by a wedging action between the 'shallower portion 9 of the peripheral'groove 6 and the surface of the internal groove 2 in the outer member 1 connect the members 1 and 3.

A sliding member 11 is arranged to slide at the pleasure of the operator on the'hub 4 and is provided with ngers 12 arranged to Specification of Letters Patent. llj'grjibinijigrl :Mmm @5 ijlull, appncaaoa inea December a, ieee. serial no. 466,638.

enter slots 13 in the wall 14: of the. periph- .eral groove 6, and a pin 15 is arranged to be inserted in eachl opening, 7 after the balls have been inserted in the groove 6 through the opening 7 from the transverse opening 5. The pins 15 prevent the return of the balls through the radial openings 7 and the fingers l2 of the sleeve 11 are arranged to provide for the reversal'of the movement of the clutcli,'as will be hereafter pointed out. The sleeve l1 is provided with a peripheral groove 16 whereby connection is made with mechanism for accomplishing its sliding movement, not shown. An internal sleeve 17 is arranged within the central' opening 5 to close the radial openings 7 Theoperation of my improved clutchiisv as follows zThe clutch is assembled by the` insertion of balls through the radial.`o'pen- `ings 7 which are then closed by the pins 15 which are held -in` place lby the internal Sleeve. 17. rlhe sliding sleeve l1 is then arranged with its fingers 12 inserted in the slotsl, thereby providing stops for the; backward movement of the balls 10 in the groove 6 when the clutch is inoperative. The balls` are, however, constantly in Contact with and inclosed by the surfaces of the grooves 2 and 6, and upon a forward movement` ofthe member which may be actingas a driving member, theyare carried into the shallower portions 9, thereby forming 'a friction connection between the driving and `the driven member. If for any reason the speed of the driven member exceeds that of the driving member the balls 10 are carried back against the iingers 12 and the driving member is disconnected from the driven member. My improved clutch may, therefore, be employed as the connection between the rear wheels of la motor vehicle and the driving axle, the

.viating the use of differential gearing in the driving mechanism.

l also provide means for imparting both a forward anda backward movement, or movement in opposite dirertion's,` through my `clutch connection from the driving to the driven member. the cam surfacesS are arranged on .either side of the radial openings 7, through which the ball is inserted and ie finger 12 on the sliding member 11 is arranged to'prevent 4the ball from 'traversing the entire groove.

As shownl in Fig. 1,

In Fig. 1, if the outer member were the driving member, and moving in the direction of the arroW a, the inner member would be driven, if the balls 10 WereonJ 'the same side of thed fingers 12 as the direction of motion, as shown in Fig. 1. If it Was desird to reverse the movementJ of the driven inner member to correspond with a reversing of the outer member, the sliding member 11 Would beI drawn out by the operator and upon the reverse movement of lthe outer member `the ballsivould be Carried past the vposition of the fingers 12 into con-tact with the opposing` camsurfaces of the groove 6,

Iand the inner member would begin to move inthe opposite direction to correspond with the reverse movement of the outer member. The slidingmember 11 is then returned to members, one. of.said members having a position with 'the fingers 12 in curved4 surface on its periphery and thel other` of said members having an opposing curved surface thereby forminga groove said first member having a central opening and a number of radial passagesconnecting said central opening with said groove, said peripheral curved surface arranged to approach said opposing cur-ved surface between s aidv radial passages, a separate rollingl member arranged tobe inserted through y each radial passage,^and means for preventing the return of saidV rolling'- member through said radial passage. i

' 2. A friction clutch comprising separate opening,

members, one of said members having a peripheral curved surface and the other of said members having an opposing curved surface thereby forming a groove, said first member having a central opening and a number of radial passages connectin said central opening with said groove, sai peripheral curved surfacebeing arranged to approach said opposing curvedsurface `between said Vradial passages," a Iseparate rolling member arranged to be ,inserted through each radial passage, and means for closing said radial passages, said means also arrangeddo limit the backward rotation of said rolling mem- .bersj in said roove.

8.. In a. frlction clutch, the combination with a member provided Witha curved surface on lits periphery arranged to project at intervals thereby forming .cam surfaces, an outer concentric annular member with an opposing curvedl surface, said first member having a single central openingand a sepa rate .radial passage forv eachprojection in said peripheral curve forthe insertion of a ball, a ball arranged to be 'inserted through each radial passage, and removable means for limitin the backwardrotation of each ball.

4. A friction clutch comprising a. member having a curved surface on its periphery having cam surfaces at intervals, and an annular member having an opposing internal 4curved surface,'said curved surfaces forming a groove, with: said lirst member having a central opening and radial openings corresponding with said cam surfaces connecting said central opening and said groove for the insertion of balls, pins fitting said radial openings and a sleeve-fitting said central CHARLES M. L. MOSESON. Witnesses:

PENELOPE COMBERBACH, :HENRY `Woony FowLEiz.

and means for limiting the back. vWard rotation of said balls. 

